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Graduate Regulations

Graduate Grading Standard

Each graduate program establishes its grade point average requirements for program continuation and graduation. Additionally, Graduate and Professional Studies maintains grading standards applicable to all graduate programs.

Graduate students are expected to perform at a consistently high level, to demonstrate substantial mastery of required tasks, and to exhibit the capacity for flexibility and adaptiveness in applying concepts and skills to the definition and solution of new, non-routine, and highly complex programs. Demonstration of these attributes in graduate course work is acknowledged through the award of a grade of B or higher.

In considering student performance, and in determining suitability for continued study or degree award, Graduate and Professional Studies is attentive to the graduate grade point average and to the patterns of grades which yield the average. Graduate and Professional Studies requires a graduate grade point average of 3.00 for program continuation and for degree award. Additionally, Graduate and Professional Studies requires a pattern of grades which documents consistent performance in courses at or above the 3 .00 level.

Accordingly:

A grade of F in any graduate course subjects the student’s continuance in the graduate program to immediate review regardless of the overall grade point average. Ordinarily, an F grade results in a suspension from Graduate and Professional Studies for one calendar year, after which an Application for Readmission may be submitted to the University.

A grade of F in any graduate course issued as a consequence of a Departure Without Withdrawal results in immediate academic dismissal.

A grade of F in any graduate course issued as a consequence of student failure to remove an Incomplete subjects the student’s continuance to immediate review and may result in either academic suspension or in immediate academic dismissal.

A grade of D in any graduate course leads to immediate review regardless of the overall grade point average. A D grade may result in a suspension from Graduate and Professional Studies for six months to one calendar year, after which an Application for Readmission may be submitted to Graduate and Professional Studies, or, in a conditional suspension, under which the student may not enroll in other course work until after the course in which the grade was received has been repeated with a grade of B or higher.

Only credits received for coursework in which performance was assessed at C or higher counts toward or is applicable to degree credit hour requirements. No more than three credit hours of C work may be applied toward degree credit hour requirements.

A grade of C in any graduate course subjects the student’s continuing in the graduate program to immediate review regardless of the overall grade point average. A second C grade may result in suspension for a specified period of time, in the requirement that coursework be repeated as a condition of continuance, in a reduction in course load, or in a warning that a subsequent grade of C will result in a suspension of one year, after which an Application for Readmission may be submitted to Graduate and Professional Studies.

Graduate and Professional Studies does not maintain probationary classifications for students whose performance, as documented by overall and term grade point average, falls below the minimum requirement for continuation or degree award. Failure to maintain an overall grade point average of 3.00 and failure to maintain a term grade point average of 3.00 (cohort instructional pattern) results in an automatic suspension of one calendar year, after which an Application for Readmission may be submitted to Graduate and Professional Studies

Please refer to the Appeal Process if you have questions regarding a Probation/Suspension appeal.

Grading Philosophy

William Woods University is committed to setting and maintaining high academic standards which reflect real world demands for excellence. Within this framework, student academic progress is evaluated using a full range of grades “A” through “F.” There is no requirement that grades be artificially curved in any given class.

Students receive the grades they earn without regard to tuition reimbursement, GPA requirements, or other pressures. Student work is evaluated against a standard performance required of the successful professional. Students are not permitted to undertake extra credit or special assignments to raise grades, unless the opportunity is provided to the class as a whole and is approved by the instructor prior to the grading of the final examination.

Qualitative Descriptions of Grades

“A” is awarded to a student who, in the professor’s judgment, performs consistently at the highest level, has thorough mastery of virtually all required tasks, and is consistently able to think flexibly and adaptively in applying concepts and skills to the definition and solution of new, non-routine, and highly complex problems.

“B” is awarded to a student who, in the professor’s judgment, performs consistently at a high level, has substantial mastery of the required tasks, and is able most of the time to think flexibly and adaptively in applying concepts and skills to the definition and solution of new, non-routine, and highly complex problems.

“C” is awarded to a student who, in the professor’s judgment, performs competently some of the time, has satisfactory mastery of some of the required tasks, and is able some of the time to think flexibly and adaptively in applying concepts and skills to the definition and solution of new, non-routine, and highly complex problems.

“D” is awarded to a student who, in the professor’s judgment, performs at a minimally competent level, has marginal mastery of the required tasks, and is generally not able to demonstrate higher level thinking, but can be expected to carry out well defined tasks at a routine level.

“F” is awarded to a student who, in the professor’s judgment, does not perform at a minimally competent level, does not have marginal mastery of the required tasks, does not generally demonstrate higher level thinking, and does not carry out well defined tasks at the routine level.